Walking aid



Jan. 27, 1953 A. STEIGLER 2,626,652

WALKING AID Filed Oct. 14, 1949 l0 Albert L. Ste/g/er JNVEN TOR.

BY Wm WWW Em Patented Jan. 27, 1953 I UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 4Claims.

This invention relates to novel and useful improvements in vehicles forinvalids.

An object of this invention is to assist an invalid or .a personincapacitated from illness, in-

jury or disease in walking, particularly during the didactic stage.

Another object of this invention is to perform the above function bymeans of a device which includes an extensible handle fixed to aplatform,

the platform or base having fixed casters at the rear thereof .andswivelcasters at the front, together with a movable Weight member whichis disposed on the base so .as to shift the load to the necessary placeon the :base, depending upon the amount of resistance and controlnecessary as indicated by the individual requirements of the patient.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of the characterto be described which is readily portable, compact and suitable for usein small houses having limited space and usable even in the smallestrooms thereof.

Other objects and features will become apparent in following theillustrated form of the invention.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of one device;

Figure 2 is a top view of a modification of the device shown in Figure1;

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 2 and inthe direction of the arrows; and

Figure 4 is a fragmentary sectional view showing the use of a brake forone of the wheels.

In the illustrated forms of the invention, a platform or base panel I!)is provided with a handle I2 at the rear ends thereof. This handleconsists of a pair of rods id and it which are disposed in extensiblerelationship with the sleeves l8 and 2B, the sleeves being slidablydisposed on the outer ends of the rods. The lower ends of the rods havefeet 22 and 24 thereon which are screwed or otherwise rigidly connectedwith the base panel Hi.

The sleeves I8 and 20 have a connecting portion 26 at the upper endsthereof which is adapted to be grasped by the hands of an individualemploying the device. A pair of pins 28 and 3%, respectively, aredisposed in apertures provided in the sleeves I8 and 2t and in a pair ofthe series of apertures 32 and 34, respectively. This expedient locksthe sleeves and, hence, the hand-holding portion 26 in the selectedextended position with respect to the rods 14 and it.

A cover or housing 2'! having an opening 29 the front thereof isdisposed on Lthe'base to form a seat for the patient and to cover thebase panel. Fastening devices, as the screw accommodating ears 3|, areemployed .to .hold the cover 2'! in place on the base.

A pair of fixed casters 3!! are disposed at the rear end of the basepanel I l1 and a pair of swivel casters '39 are disposed at the cornersof the base opposite the rear corners which mount the stationary casters3'8. I

A pair of resilient bumpers 42- and 44, respectively, are disposed atthe corners of 'the base panel above the swivel casters 39. Thestructureof the bumpers is preferably a metallic back plate M) which issubstantially v -shaped cover'ed with a rubber web. By this expedient,the rubber web extends not only at the front of the device but also atthe sides.

A weight member 48, which, in the illustration, is shown as arectangular bar, is disposed on the upper surface of the platform orbase panel It). It is slidable thereon for adjustment. It may bepositioned directly over the casters 39 or at another place remotetherefrom, toward the rear of the base panel. The position of the weightwill depend upon the requirements of the individual patient. The weightprovides the amount of resistance and control of the device necessary asrequired by the individual patient. Hence, by having the weight disposedas shown in Figure 1, it would be extremely difficult to cause the basepanel [U to be pivoted about the axles of the casters 38 so as to raisethe front end of the device. Itis also rather diflicult to turn thedevice either right or left with the weight reacting directly on thecasters 39, as disclosed. To move the weight member 48 renders both ofthese functions easier.

A brake is operatively connected with one or more of the wheels of thecasters, preferably the fixed casters 38. The brake consists of a rocker52 mounted on a rocker shaft 54 which is disposed below the base panelIO. A braking plate 56 is secured to the rocker 52 for engagement withone or more of said wheels.

An operating arm 51 is secured to said rocker in order to operate therocker, and a brake setting and releasing device 58 of conventionaldescription is secured to one of the handle rods. Whether one or morerockers are used is a matter of choice. 1

In the embodiment of the invention shown in Figures 2 and 3, the samestructure is employed, in addition to which, a switch 60 is carried inone of the sleeves so that it may be operated by the patient. Thisswitch controls a motor 62 which is disposed on the base panel I!) andwhich is drivingly connected with one of the caster wheels 38. Thedriving connection consists of a pulley 64 which is mounted on the motorshaft, together with a belt '66 which is entrained therearound, and asecond pulley 69 which is rigidly secured to the axle 70 of the casterassembly. A cover or housing 72 is disposed over the battery, whence thecurrent is supplied to the motor, as controlled by the switch 60.

In Figure 2, the cover 2! and brake mechanism has been omitted forclarity.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. In a vehicle for invalids, a base panel having four corners, a wheellocated at each corner to support said panel, a handle secured to saidpanel, a weight member carried by said panel and movable on the uppersurface thereof to shift the center of gravity of the vehicle, and astop secured to said panel and rising above the upper surface of saidpanel to prevent said member from sliding ofi said panel.

2. In a vehicle for invalids, a base panel hav ing four corners, a wheellocated at each corner to support said panel, a handle secured to saidpanel, a weight member carried by said panel and movable on the uppersurface thereof to shift the center of gravity of the vehicle, and astop secured to said panel and rising above the upper surface of saidpanel to prevent said member from sliding off said panel, and said stophaving a front surface constituting a seat for a bumper. 3. In a vehiclefor invalids, a base panel having four corners, a wheel located at eachcorner to support said panel, a handle secured to said panel, a weightmember carried by said panel and movable on the upper surface thereof toshift the center of gravity of the vehicle, and a stop secured to saidpanel and rising above the upper surface of said panel to prevent saidmembers from sliding off said panel, and a housing disposed on saidpanel to cover said weight member and prevent separation of said weightmember from said panel.

4. The combination of claim 3 wherein said housing has a notch therein,said stop being received in said notch.

ALBERT L. STEIGLER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,277,434 Leadbeather Sept. 3,1918 1,290,475 Allen Jan. 7, 1919 1,399,040 Baines Dec. 6, 19211,486,660 Hajdu Mar. 11, 1925 2,285,778 Milward June 9, 1942 2,307,096Zink et a1. Jan. 5, 1943 2,425,253 Little et al Aug. 5, 1947 2,490,870Heyn Dec. 13, 1949 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 379,475 GermanyAug. 23, 1923 635,854 France Jan. 3, 1928

